NEWS: Award applications open for the 2018 Enterprise Awards

The Oxford Trust is pleased to announce that the application process is now open for its prestigious Enterprise Awards 2018.

The Oxford Trust Enterprise Awards 2018 take place after Venturefest Oxford on the evening of Wednesday 12th September at Oxford Brookes University.

Now in their fourteenth year, the awards are an annual highlight in the innovation calendar. They recognise and celebrate the breadth of innovative companies and individual entrepreneurs who are working in science and technology in the Oxford region. Run in partnership with Venturefest Oxford, the event is a real showcase for Oxfordshire’s high-tech industry and celebrates those just starting out on their journey to success as well as established businesses and individuals who have made an impact on the regional economy through innovation. Previous winners have included Oxbotica, Immunocore and Adaptix – all now successful companies in their own right.

The awards drinks reception and networking event is sponsored by Marks & Clerk.

In 2018, there are four award categories, including the Triteq Young Entrepreneur Award, the Barclays Award for Innovation, Advanced Oxford Technology Breakthrough Award and The Oxford Trust Lifetime Achievement Award.

Applications are now open for:

Triteq Young Entrepreneur Award
This award recognises and celebrates the founder/s (under 40) of innovative science and tech companies in Oxfordshire. The winner of last year’s award was Travis Wentworth, who set up Langu – a virtual language platform that connects students with teachers. Prize money of £1000, engraved glass award

Barclays Award for Innovation
This award is presented to a company that has already spotted an opportunity in a tech market and has successfully created a business that meets this need and benefits wider society and the economy. Last year’s winner was Oxbotica, the world-leading driverless vehicle software firm. Prize money of £1000, engraved glass award

Businesses applying for the Enterprise Awards 2018 must be a registered company based in Oxfordshire. They should have funding in place for the next 3–5 years.

For the Triteq Young Entrepreneur Award, founder/s should be under 40 and have developed a recognised and original science/tech innovation.

For the Barclays Award for Innovation, companies must have created a new opportunity in the tech market that benefits the local economy and wider society.

The Young Entrepreneur Award is sponsored by Triteq, a product design and development consultancy based in Newbury. Triteq is back for a third year as the sponsor of this award. Angela Hobbs, Triteq’s Managing Director, says, “At Triteq we work with ideas. Most importantly, we work with people who have ideas that have the potential to become life-changing products with a global impact. We believe that supporting the Enterprise Awards is an excellent way of recognising young founders and encouraging innovation”.

The Trust is delighted to welcome back Barclays for a third year as the sponsor of the Innovation Award. Gary Harris, Relationship Director at Barclays, commented: “Barclays is once again proud to be a sponsor of the The Oxford Trust Enterprise Awards. We share the same ambition to support innovative entrepreneurs and businesses in Oxford and across the region. Running any fast-moving, high-growth company takes a substantial investment, from both an emotional and financial perspective, and it’s an investment we want to be fully behind. High growth businesses are a priority for us, they have a hugely positive impact; they create new jobs, new opportunities for investors and they help to galvanise economic growth as a whole.”

Applications for the Triteq Young Enterpreneur Award and Barclays Innovation Award are open now and close on 19th June. Go to: www.theoxfordtrust.co.uk